Bumper Apparatus with Position-Retaining Features

ABSTRACT

A bumper apparatus including a bumper and a bumper retaining element connected proximate to a lower edge of the bumper along a majority of a length of the bumper and configured to extend laterally outward from the bumper. The bumper retaining element may be configured to be positioned between a mattress and an occupant laying on the mattress such that a clamping force is exerted on the bumper retaining element, thereby inhibiting movement between the bumper apparatus and at least one of the mattress or the occupant.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatuses for bumpers for use next to a prostrate individual.

BACKGROUND

The use of bumpers to inhibit movement of a person laying prostrate next to the bumper is known in the art. However, previous solutions have suffered from being prone to being moved by the person's movement, resulting in the bumper being shifted out of position and providing inadequate support to the person. Attempts to solve this issue, including positioning the bumper under a covering (such as a fitted sheet) suffer from being impracticable, making it difficult to intentionally reposition the bumper or to remove the bumper. Additionally, other solutions included embedding the bumper as part of the cover, having many of the same shortcomings. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a bumper that can remain in place but is also easily repositioned.

This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the above in mind, embodiments of the present invention are related to a bumper apparatus comprising a bumper and a bumper retaining element connected proximate to a lower edge of the bumper along a majority of a length of the bumper and configured to extend laterally outward from the bumper. The bumper retaining element may be configured to be positioned between a mattress and an occupant laying on the mattress such that a clamping force is exerted on the bumper retaining element, thereby inhibiting movement between the bumper apparatus and at least one of the mattress or the occupant.

In some embodiments. the bumper retaining element may be integrally formed with the bumper.

In some embodiments, the bumper may comprise a bolster and a cover surrounding the bolster, and the bumper retaining element may be connected to the cover. The cover and the bumper retaining element may be integrally formed or, alternatively, the cover may be sewn to the bumper retaining element. The bolster may comprise at least one of a foam material or an inflatable bladder.

In some embodiments, the bumper retaining element is configured to have a maximum outward extension distance from the bumper of at least 15 inches. The bumper retaining element may consist of a single layer of material. The bumper retaining element may comprise a synthetic polymer. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the bumper retaining element is arcuate

In some embodiments, the bumper has a length within a range from 40 inches to 52 inches, a width within the range from 5 inches to nine inches, and a height within the range from 3 inches to 6 inches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bumper apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a lower perspective view of the bumper apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the bumper apparatus of FIG. 1 taken through line 3-3.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bumper apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention in use on a mattress with an occupant laying on the bumper apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Those of ordinary skill in the art realize that the following descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are illustrative and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention.

In this detailed description of the present invention, a person skilled in the art should note that directional terms, such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” and other like terms are used for the convenience of the reader in reference to the drawings. Also, a person skilled in the art should notice this description may contain other terminology to convey position, orientation, and direction without departing from the principles of the present invention.

Furthermore, in this detailed description, a person skilled in the art should note that quantitative qualifying terms such as “generally,” “substantially,” “mostly,” and other terms are used, in general, to mean that the referred to object, characteristic, or quality constitutes a majority of the subject of the reference. The meaning of any of these terms is dependent upon the context within which it is used, and the meaning may be expressly modified.

An embodiment of the invention, as shown and described by the various figures and accompanying text, provides a bumper apparatus configured to be held in place on a mattress or other surface by an occupant prostrating themselves on top of a bumper retaining element of the bumper apparatus, such that the bumper retaining element is clamped between the occupant and the mattress.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a bumper apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the invention is presented. The bumper apparatus 100 comprises a bumper 102 and a bumper retaining element 120. The bumper apparatus 100 may be configured to provide lateral support to and deter an individual that is prostrate on a surface, such as a mattress surface, from rolling beyond the bumper apparatus.

The bumper 102 may be configured to occupy a volume of sufficient height, length, and with so as to provide support to and prevent rolling of an occupant. In some embodiments, the bumper 102 may have a length L within a range from 40 inches to 52 inches, a width W within a range from five inches to nine inches, and a height H within a range from 3 inches to 6 inches. In the present embodiment, the height H may be 4.5 inches and the width W may be 7 inches.

Referring specifically to FIG. 3, the bumper 102 may comprise a bolster 104 and a cover 106 configured to surround the bolster 104. The bolster 104 may be configured to have occupy a volume comprising most or all of an interior space defined by the cover 106. The bolster 104 may be configured for the occupant to lean on and generally provide support to the occupant, as well as retard the movement of the occupant beyond the bolster 104. The bolster 104 may be formed of any suitable material, including, but not limited to, a foam material, such as a polymeric foam, polyester filling, or an inflatable bladder. Where the bolster 104 comprises polyester filling, a sufficient quantity of polyester filling may be placed inside the interior space defined by the cover 106 to provide shape to the cover 106, thereby defining the shape of the bumper 102, and to provide support and resistance to movement of the occupant as described above. The cover 106 may be formed of at least one of a synthetic polymer, such as nylon, or a natural fiber, such as cotton, or composites of synthetic polymers and natural fibers.

The bumper 102 may be configured to have any shape or geometry as is known in art, including, but not limited to, square, rectangular, arcuate, partially arcuate, partially concave, partially convex, and any other shape. Accordingly, the bolster 104 and the cover 106 may similarly be configured to define the shape of the bumper 102 to have any of the aforementioned geometries. Moreover, the bolster 104 and the cover 106 may be configured so as to conform to the geometries of one another.

In some embodiments, the cover 106 may comprise a closable aperture 108 that may be opened in order to access the bolster 104. In some embodiments, the bolster 104 may be removable from within the cover 106 via the aperture 108. The aperture 108 may be selectively openable and closable by any means or method known in the art, including, but not limited to, zippers, hook-and-loop systems, fasteners, such as snaps, buttons eye-and-loop systems, and the like. In other embodiments, the aperture may be configured to remain open and permit a structure associated with the bolster 104 to pass therethrough, such as an air valve, such that the structure may be manipulable without removing the bolster 104 from within the cover 106.

The bumper retaining element 120 may be formed at least one of a synthetic polymer, such as nylon, or a natural fiber, such as cotton, or a composite material comprising multiple synthetic polymers, multiple natural fibers, or a combination of synthetic polymers and natural fibers. Additionally, in some embodiments, the bumper retaining element 120 may be formed as a single layer of material. The bumper retaining element 120 may comprise an attachment section 122 configured to be attached to the bumper 102. The attachment section 122 may be configured to have a shape that conforms to the shape of the bumper 102 at the point of the bumper 102 the attachment section 122 attaches. In some embodiments, the attachment section 122 may attach to the cover 106, specifically at or proximate to a lower edge 109. Any means or method of attachment to attach the bumper retaining element 120 to the bumper 102 are contemplated and included within the invention, including, but not limited to, sewing, adhesives, glues, fusing, fasteners, magnetic attachment, and the like. In some embodiments, the bumper 102 and the bumper retaining element 120 may be integrally formed. For example, the cover 106 and the bumper retaining element 120 may be formed from a single structure, e.g. a single sheet of material. In some embodiments, the bumper retaining element 120 may comprise an outer edge 124 that is configured to prevent the fraying or other deterioration of the bumper retaining element 120, such as a hem.

In some embodiments, an upper surface 126 of the bumper retaining element 120 may be configured to inhibit movement of the bumper retaining element 120 as a result of movement by an occupant laying thereon. More specifically, the upper surface 126 may be configured to have a relatively low coefficient of friction, kinetic and/or static, such that movement by the occupant, and the interface between the occupant and the upper surface 126, is less likely to result in movement of the bumper retaining element. Such configuration may include the upper surface 126 being smooth, such smoothness being accomplished by any means or method known in the art, including, but not limited to, polishing, application of a coating, and the like.

In some embodiments, a lower surface 128 of the bumper retaining element 120 may be configured to inhibit movement of the bumper retaining element 120 as a result of movement by an occupant. The lower surface 128 may be configured to have a relatively high coefficient of frication, kinetic and/or static, such that the interface between the lower surface 128 and the surface on which the bumper apparatus 100 is positioned produces a frictional force there between, thereby inhibiting the movement of the bumper apparatus 100 relative to the surface on which the bumper apparatus is positioned. Such configuration may include the lower surface 128 being textured and/or otherwise increasing engagement with the surface on which the bumper apparatus 100 is positioned This may be accomplished by any means or method known in the art, including, but not limited to, roughing the lower surface 128, application of a coating, and the like.

The bumper retaining element 120 may extend generally away from the bumper 102. In some embodiments, the bumper retaining element 120 may extend a maximum outward extension distance D away from the bumper 102. Distance D may be at least 15 inches. In the present embodiment, D may be 20 inches.

In the present embodiment the bumper retaining element 120 is partially arcuate, having a portion generally away from the bumper 102 that is curved. Any shape or geometry of the bumper retaining element 120 is contemplated and included within the scope of the invention, including any regular or irregular polygon.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a bumper apparatus 400 is shown to be configured to be held in place by being partially positioned between an occupant 410 and a surface on which the occupant 410 is prostrate, in this case, a mattress 420. A bumper 402 of the bumper apparatus 400 may be held in place by a clamping force resulting from the weight of the occupant 410 being exerted on the mattress 420 with a bumper retaining element 404 of the bumper apparatus 400 positioned between the occupant 410 and the mattress 420. The clamping force exerted on the bumper retaining element 404 may hold the bumper retaining element 404 in place, and the attachment between the bumper retaining element 404 and the bumper 402 may hold the bumper 402 in place.

Some of the illustrative aspects of the present invention may be advantageous in solving the problems herein described and other problems not discussed which are discoverable by a skilled artisan.

While the above description contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the presented embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best or only mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A bumper apparatus comprising: a bumper; and a bumper retaining element connected proximate to a lower edge of the bumper along a majority of a length of the bumper and configured to extend laterally outward from the bumper; wherein the bumper retaining element is configured to be positioned between a mattress and an occupant laying on the mattress such that a clamping force is exerted on the bumper retaining element, thereby inhibiting movement between the bumper apparatus and at least one of the mattress or the occupant.
 2. The bumper apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bumper retaining element is integrally formed with the bumper.
 3. The bumper apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the bumper comprises: a bolster; and a cover surrounding the bolster; and the bumper retaining element is connected to the cover.
 4. The bumper apparatus of claim 3 wherein the cover and the bumper retaining element are integrally formed.
 5. The bumper apparatus of claim 3 wherein the cover is sewn to the bumper retaining element.
 6. The bumper apparatus of claim 3 wherein the bolster comprises at least one of a foam material, polyester filling, or an inflatable bladder.
 7. The bumper apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bumper retaining element is configured to have a maximum outward extension distance from the bumper of at least 15 inches.
 8. The bumper apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bumper retaining element consists of a single layer of material.
 9. The bumper apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bumper retaining element comprises at least one of a synthetic polymer or a natural fiber.
 10. The bumper apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bumper has a length within a range from 40 inches to 52 inches, a width within a range from 5 inches to 9 inches, and a height within a range from 3 inches to 6 inches.
 11. The bumper apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the bumper retaining element is arcuate.
 12. A bumper apparatus comprising: a bumper comprising: a bolster; and a cover surrounding the bolster; and a bumper retaining element connected proximate to a lower edge of the cover along a majority of a length of the bumper and configured to extend laterally outward from the bumper, the bumper retaining element comprising at least one of a synthetic polymer or a natural fiber; wherein the bumper retaining element is configured to be positioned between a mattress and an occupant laying on the mattress such that a clamping force is exerted on the bumper retaining element, thereby inhibiting movement between the bumper apparatus and at least one of the mattress or the occupant.
 13. The bumper apparatus of claim 12 wherein the bumper retaining element is integrally formed with the cover.
 14. The bumper apparatus of claim 12 wherein the cover is sewn to the bumper retaining element.
 15. The bumper apparatus of claim 12 wherein the bolster comprises at least one of a foam material or an inflatable bladder.
 16. The bumper apparatus of claim 12 wherein the bumper retaining element is configured to have a maximum outward extension distance from the bumper of at least 15 inches.
 17. The bumper apparatus of claim 12 wherein the bumper retaining element consists of a single layer of material.
 18. The bumper apparatus of claim 12 wherein the bumper has a length within a range from 40 inches to 52 inches, a width within a range from 5 inches to nine inches, and a height within a range from 3 inches to 6 inches.
 19. The bumper apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least a portion of the bumper retaining element is arcuate.
 20. A bumper apparatus comprising: a bumper comprising: a bolster comprising an inflatable bladder; and a cover surrounding the bolster; and an arcuate bumper retaining element sewn proximate to a lower edge of the cover along a majority of a length of the bumper and configured to extend laterally outward from the bumper, the bumper retaining element consisting of a single layer of material comprising at least one of a synthetic polymer or a natural fiber; wherein the bumper retaining element is configured to be positioned between a mattress and an occupant laying on the mattress such that a clamping force is exerted on the bumper retaining element, thereby inhibiting movement between the bumper apparatus and at least one of the mattress or the occupant. 